Single-step bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels using extreme thermophilic bacteria

ABSTRACT

The present technology pertains to improved methods for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass material to bio-fuels using novel isolated cellulolytic extreme thermophilic bacterial cells belonging to the genus  Caldicellulosiruptor,  and mutants thereof.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure pertains to improved methods for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass material to biofuels using novel isolated cellulolytic extreme thermophilic bacterial cells belonging to the genus Caldicellulosiruptor, and mutants thereof.

BACKGROUND

Biofuel can be broadly defined as solid, liquid, or gas fuel derived from recently dead biological material. The derivation of biofuel from recently dead biological material distinguishes it from fossil fuels, which are derived from long dead biological material. Biofuel can be theoretically produced from any biological carbon source, but a common source of biofuel is photosynthetic plants. Many different plants and plant-derived materials may be used for biofuel manufacture. One strategy for producing biofuel involves growing crops high in either sugar (e.g., sugar cane, sugar beet, and sweet sorghum) or starch (e.g., corn/maize), and then using yeast fermentation to produce ethyl alcohol (ethanol). One challenge associated with this strategy is that competition between food markets and energy markets for the crops can increase food costs.

However, the industry of producing fermentation products such as ethanol is facing the challenge of redirecting the production process from fermentation of relatively easily convertible but expensive starchy materials, to the complex but inexpensive lignocellulosic biomass such as plant biomass.

Unlike starch, which contains homogenous and easily hydrolysed polymers, lignocellulosic biomass contains variable amounts of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and small amounts of protein, pectin, wax and other organic compounds. Lignocellulosic biomass should be understood in its broadest sense, so that it apart from wood, agricultural residues, energy crops also comprises different types of waste from both industry and households. Cellulosic biomass is a vast poorly exploited resource, and in some cases a waste problem. However, hexoses from cellulose can be converted by yeast to fuel ethanol for which there is a growing demand. Pentoses from hemicellulose cannot yet be converted to ethanol commercially but several promising ethanologenic microorganisms with the capacity to convert pentoses and hexoses are under development.

Typically, the first step in utilization of lignocellulosic biomass is a pre-treatment step, in order to fractionate the components of lignocellulosic material and increase their surface area.

The pre-treatment method most often used is steam pretreatment, a process comprising heating of the lignocellulosic material by steam injection to a temperature of 130-230° C. Prior to or during steam pretreatment, a catalyst like mineral or organic acid or a caustic agent facilitating disintegration of the biomass structure can be added optionally.

Another type of lignocellulose hydrolysis is acid hydrolysis, where the lignocellulosic material is subjected to an acid such as sulphuric acid whereby the sugar polymers cellulose and hemicellulose are partly or completely hydrolysed to their constituent sugar monomers and the structure of the biomass is destroyed facilitating access of hydrolytic enzymes in subsequent processing steps.

A further method is wet oxidation wherein the material is treated with oxygen at 150-185° C. Either pretreatment can be followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to complete the release of sugar monomers. This pre-treatment step results in the hydrolysis of cellulose into glucose while hemicellulose is transformed into the pentoses xylose and arabinose and the hexoses glucose, mannose and galactose. Thus, in contrast to starch, the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass results in the release of pentose sugars in addition to hexose sugars. This implies that useful fermenting organisms need to be able to convert both hexose and pentose sugars to desired fermentation products such as ethanol.

After the pre-treatment the lignocellulosic biomass processing schemes involving enzymatic or microbial hydrolysis commonly involve four biologically mediated transformations: (1) the production of saccharolytic enzymes (cellulases and hemicellulases); (2) the hydrolysis of carbohydrate components present in pretreated biomass to sugars; (3) the fermentation of hexose sugars (e.g. glucose, mannose, and galactose); and (4) the fermentation of pentose sugars (e.g., xylose and arabinose).

Each processing step can make the overall process more costly and, therefore, decrease the economic feasibility of producing biofuel or carbon-based chemicals from cellulosic biological material. Thus, there is a need to develop methods that reduce the number of processing steps needed to convert cellulosic biological material to biofuel and other commercially desirable materials.

The four biologically mediated transformations may occur in a single step in a process configuration called consolidated bioprocessing (CBP), which is distinguished from other less highly integrated configurations in that CBP does not involve a dedicated process step for cellulase and/or hemicellulase production. CBP offers the potential for higher efficiency than a processes requiring dedicated cellulase production in a distinct unit operation.

Therefore, the availability of novel microorganisms for converting lignocellulosic biomass material to carbon-based chemicals, preferably for the use in a single step process as part of a consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) system would be highly advantageous.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to methods using novel extreme thermophilic microorganisms, and compositions for processing lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels.

In a first aspect, embodiments of the disclosure provide the use of novel isolated cellulolytic thermophilic bacterial cells belonging to the genus Caldicellulosiruptor for producing high levels of biofuels, in particular of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass material.

Embodiments of this disclosure relate to the use of an isolated Caldicellulosiruptor sp. cell comprising a 16S rDNA with a sequence selected form the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6 or SEQ ID NO 7, or homolgues thereof.

In one aspect, embodiments of this disclosure relate to the use of an isolated Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB004C, Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB041C, Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB087C, Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB101C, Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB103C, Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB104C or Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB107C, each respectively characterized by having a 16S rDNA sequence at least 99 to 100%, preferably 99.5 to 99.99 percent identical to SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6 or SEQ ID NO 7 as outlined in table 1.

In still another aspect the present invention relates to the use of an isolated strain comprising a Caldicellulosiruptor sp. cell according to any of the preceding aspects.

In a further aspect, embodiments of this disclosure relate to the use of the strain Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB004C deposited as DSM 25177, a microorganism derived therefrom or a Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB004C homolog or mutant.

In a further aspect, embodiments of this disclosure relate to the use of the strain Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB041C deposited as DSM 25771, a microorganism derived therefrom or a Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB041C homolog or mutant.

In a further aspect, embodiments of this disclosure relate to the use of the strain Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB087C deposited as DSM 25772, a microorganism derived there from or a Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB087C homolog or mutant.

In a further aspect, embodiments of this disclosure relate to the use of the strain Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB101C deposited as DSM 25178, a microorganism derived there from or a Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB101C homolog or mutant.

In a further aspect, embodiments of this disclosure relate to the use of the strain Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB103C deposited as DSM 25773, a microorganism derived there from or a Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB103C homolog or mutant.

In a further aspect, embodiments of this disclosure relate to the use of the strain Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB104C deposited as DSM 25774, a microorganism derived there from or a Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB104C homolog or mutant.

In a further aspect, embodiments of this disclosure relate to the use of the strain Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB107C deposited as DSM 25775, a microorganism derived there from or a Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB107C homolog or mutant.

In another aspect the present disclosure relates to methods of producing a biofuel product comprising culturing a cell according to the disclosure or a strain according to the disclosure under suitable conditions.

In still another aspect, embodiments of this disclosure relate to methods for converting lignocellulosic biomass material to a biofuel comprising the step of contacting the lignocellulosic biomass material with a microbial culture for a period of time at an initial temperature and an initial pH, thereby producing an amount of a biofuel, in particular to ethanol; wherein the microbial culture comprises an extremely thermophilic microorganism of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor, in particular all microorganisms of the strain Caldicellulosiruptor sp. as listed in table 1 with their respective deposition numbers, microorganisms derived from either of these strains or mutants or homologues thereof.

In still another aspect, embodiments of this disclosure relate to methods of making ethanol from biomass material, wherein the method comprises combining a microbial culture and the biomass in a medium; and fermenting the biomass under conditions and for a time sufficient to produce ethanol, in a single step process as part of a consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) system, with a cell, strain, microbial culture and/or a microorganism according to the present disclosure under suitable conditions.

In still another aspect, embodiments of this disclosure relate to methods of making ethanol from biomass material, wherein the method comprises combining a microbial culture and the biomass in a medium; and fermenting the biomass under conditions and for a time sufficient to produce ethanol in a single step process as part of a consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) system, with a cell, strain, microbial culture and/or a microorganism according to the present disclosure under suitable conditions.

In still another aspect, embodiments of this disclosure relate to methods of making ethanol from biomass material, wherein the method comprises combining a microbial culture and the biomass in a medium; and fermenting the biomass under conditions and for a time sufficient to produce ethanol in a single step process as part of a consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) system, with a cell, strain, microbial culture and/or a microorganism according to the present disclosure under suitable conditions in combination with application of method suitable to in-situ remove both or either fermentation product from the fermentation broth. Suitable methods include but are not limited to distillation, mediated distillation, extraction and precipitation.

Further, embodiments of this disclosure relate to the use of compositions for converting lignocellulosic biomass or a microbial culture to a biofuel, in particular to ethanol, comprising a cell, strain or microorganism according to the present disclosure.

Before the disclosure is described in detail, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular component parts of the devices described or process steps of the methods described as such devices and methods may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purposes of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include singular and/or plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It is moreover to be understood that, in case parameter ranges are given which are delimited by numeric values, the ranges are deemed to include these limitation values.

To provide a comprehensive disclosure without unduly lengthening the specification, the applicant hereby incorporates by reference each of the patents and patent applications cited herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a phylogenetic tree based on 16S rDNA genes for all Caldicellulosiruptor sp. strains comprised in the invention as listed in table 1

FIG. 2 shows a 16S rDNA from Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB004C cell.

FIG. 3 shows a 16S rDNA from Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB041C cell.

FIG. 4 shows a 16S rDNA from Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB087C cell.

FIG. 5 shows a 16S rDNA from Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB101C cell.

FIG. 6 shows a 16S rDNA from Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB103C cell.

FIG. 7 shows a 16S rDNA from Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB104C cell.

FIG. 8 shows a 16S rDNA from Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB107C cell.

FIG. 9 shows a graph indicating production of ethanol and lactic acid by DIB004C during growth on steam-pretreated miscanthus grass.

FIG. 10 shows a table indicating performance data from all strains listed in table 1 and reference strain C. saccharolyticus DSM8903 during cultivation on cellulose, cellobiose, glucose, xylan, xylose and pretreated lignocellulosic biomass.

FIG. 11 shows a table indicating performance data from strains DIB004C and DIB101C on various types of pretreated lignocellulosic biomass

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to methods using microorganisms, and compositions for processing lignocellulosic biomass. The disclosure relates, in certain aspects, to the use of microorganisms, which are able to convert lignocellulosic biomass such as, for example, miscanthus grass, to soluble products that can be used by the same or by another microorganism to produce an economically desirable product such as biofuels, in particular to ethanol.

The application of this technology has the potential to render production of carbon-based chemicals and biofuels more economically feasible and to allow a broader range of microorganisms to utilize recalcitrant biomass. The use of cellulosic materials as sources of bioenergy is currently limited by typically requiring preprocessing of the cellulosic material. Such preprocessing methods can be expensive. Thus, methods that reduce dependence on preprocessing of cellulosic materials may have a dramatic impact on the economics of the use of recalcitrant biomass for biofuels production. One challenge in converting biomass into fermentation products is the recalcitrance and heterogeneity of the biological material.

The present inventors have found microorganisms of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor, which have a variety of advantageous properties for their use in the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass material to biofuel, preferably in a single step process as part of a consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) system.

In particular, these microorganisms are extremely thermophilic and show a broad substrate specificities and high natural production of ethanol. Moreover, ethanol acid fermentation at high temperatures, for example over 70° C. has many advantages over mesophilic fermentation. One advantage of thermophilic fermentation is the minimization of the problem of contamination in batch cultures, fed-batch cultures or continuous cultures, since only a few microorganisms are able to grow at such high temperatures in un-detoxified lignocellulose biomass material.

It is also an advantage that the cells, strains and microorganisms according to the present disclosure grow on pre-treated as well as on untreated lignocellulosic biomass material.

The isolated cells, strains, microorganisms, compositions and microbial cultures are capable of growing and producing fermentation products on very high dry-matter concentrations of lignocellulosic biomass material.

In the present context the term “lignocellulosic biomass material” is intended to designate a untreated lignocellulosic biomass and/or a lignocellulosic biomass which has been subjected to a pretreatment step whereby lignocellulosic material has been at least partially separated into cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin thereby having increased the surface area and/or accessibility of the material. The lignocellulosic material may typically be derived from plant material, such as straw, hay, perennial grass, garden refuse, comminuted wood, fruit hulls and seed hulls.

The pretreatment method most often used is steam pretreatment, a process comprising heating of the lignocellulosic material by steam injection to a temperature of 130-230 degrees centigrade with or without subsequent sudden release of pressure. Prior to or during steam pretreatment, a catalyst like a mineral or organic acid or a caustic agent facilitating disintegration of the biomass structure can be added optionally. Catalysts often used for such a pretreatment include but are not limited to sulphuric acid, sulphurous acid, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide (lime), ammonia or the respective salts or anhydrides of any of these agents.

Such steam pretreatment step may or may not be preceded by another treatment step including cooking of the biomass in water or steaming of the biomass at temperatures of 100-200° C. with or without the addition of a suitable catalyst like a mineral or organic acid or a caustic agent facilitating disintegration of the biomass structure. In between the cooking step and the subsequent steam pretreatment step one or more liquid-solid-separation and washing steps can be introduced to remove solubilized biomass components in order to reduce or prevent formation of inhibitors during the subsequent steam pretreatment step. Inhibitors formed during heat or steam pretreatment include but are not limited to furfural formed from monomeric pentose sugars, hydroxymethylfurfural formed from monomeric hexose sugars, acetic acid, levulinic acid, phenols and phenol derivatives.

Another type of lignocellulose hydrolysis is acid hydrolysis, where the lignocellulosic material is subjected to an acid such as sulfuric acid or sulfurous acid whereby the sugar polymers cellulose and hemicellulose are partly or completely hydrolysed to their constituent sugar monomers. A third method is wet oxidation wherein the material is treated with oxygen at 150-185 degrees centigrade. The pretreatments can be followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to complete the release of sugar monomers. This pre-treatment step results in the hydrolysis of cellulose into glucose while hemicellulose is transformed into the pentoses xylose and arabinose and the hexoses glucose, mannose and galactose. The pretreatment step may in certain embodiments be supplemented with treatment resulting in further hydrolysis of the cellulose and hemicellulose. The purpose of such an additional hydrolysis treatment is to hydrolyze oligosaccharide and possibly polysaccharide species produced during the acid hydrolysis, wet oxidation, or steam pretreatment of cellulose and/or hemicellulose origin to form fermentable sugars (e.g. glucose, xylose and possibly other monosaccharides). Such further treatments may be either chemical or enzymatic. Chemical hydrolysis is typically achieved by treatment with an acid, such as treatment with aqueous sulphuric acid or hydrochloric acid, at a temperature in the range of about 100-150 degrees centigrade. Enzymatic hydrolysis is typically performed by treatment with one or more appropriate carbohydrase enzymes such as cellulases, glucosidases and hemicellulases including xylanases.

It has been found that the microorganisms according to the present disclosure can grow efficiently on various types of pretreated and untreated biomass (e.g. wood incl. poplar, spruce and cotton wood; various types of grasses and grass residues incl. miscanthus, wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse, corn stalks, corn cobs, whole corn plants, sweet sorghum).

As used herein “efficient” growth refers to growth in which cells may be cultivated to a specified density within a specified time.

The microorganisms according to the present disclosure can grow efficiently on crystalline cellulose and steam pretreated perennial grasses and grow efficiently on xylan.

Cellobiose is a disaccharide derived from the condensation of two glucose molecules linked in a β(1→4) bond. It can be hydrolyzed to give glucose. Cellobiose has eight free alcohol (OH) groups, one ether linkage and two hemiacetal linkages, which give rise to strong inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonds. It is a type of dietary carbohydrate also found in mushrooms.

Xylan is a generic term used to describe a wide variety of highly complex polysaccharides that are found in plant cell walls and some algae. Xylans are polysaccharides made from units of xylose.

The microorganisms according to the present disclosure also can grow efficiently on spent biomass—insoluble material that remains after a culture has grown to late stationary phase (e.g., greater than 10⁸ cells/mL) on untreated biomass.

The microorganisms according to the present disclosure also grew efficiently on cellobiose, untreated switchgrass, and untreated poplar and poplar that had been heated at 98 degrees centigrade for two minutes.

Furthermore, the microorganisms according to the present disclosure grew efficiently on both the soluble and insoluble materials obtained after heat treating the biomass.

It was surprisingly found that the bacterial subspecies according to the present disclosure is capable of growing in a medium comprising a lignocellulosic biomass material having a dry-matter content of at least 10 percent wt/wt, such as at least 15 percent wt/wt, including at least 20 percent wt/wt, and even as high as at least 25 percent wt/wt.

The microorganisms according to the invention are anaerobic thermophile bacteria, and they are capable of growing at high temperatures even at or above 70 degrees centigrade The fact that the strains are capable of operating at this high temperature is of high importance in the conversion of the lignocellulosic material into fermentation products. The conversion rate of carbohydrates into ethanol is much faster when conducted at high temperatures. For example, the volumetric ethanol productivity of a thermophilic Bacillus is up to ten-fold higher than a conventional yeast fermentation process which operates at 30 degrees centigrade Consequently, a smaller production plant is required for a given plant capacity, thereby reducing plant construction costs. As also mentioned previously, the high temperature reduces the risk of contamination from other microorganisms, resulting in less downtime, increased plant productivity and a lower energy requirement for feedstock sterilization. The high operation temperature may also facilitate the subsequent recovery of the resulting fermentation products.

Lignocellulosic biomass material and lignocellulose hydrolysates contain inhibitors such as furfural, phenols and carboxylic acids, which can potentially inhibit the fermenting organism. Therefore, it is an advantage of the microorganisms according to the present disclosure that they are tolerant to these inhibitors.

The microorganisms according to the present disclosure are novel species of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor or novel subspecies of Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus.

For example, the genus Caldicellulosiruptor includes different species of extremely thermophilic (growth at temperature significantly above 70° C.) cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic strictly anaerobic nonsporeforming bacteria. The first bacterium of this genus, Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus strain Tp8T (DSM 8903) has a temperature optimum of 70° C. and was isolated from a thermal spring in New Zealand (Rainey et al. 1994; Sissons et al. 1987). It hydrolyses a variety of polymeric carbohydrates with the production of acetate, lactate and trace amounts of ethanol (Donnison et al. 1988). Phylogenetic analysis showed that it constitutes a novel lineage within the Bacillus/Clostridium subphylum of the Gram-positive bacteria (Rainey et al. 1994).

According to the present disclosure, the microorganisms produce ethanol and/or lactic acid and show several features that distinguish them from currently used microorganisms: (i) high yield and low product inhibition, (ii) simultaneous utilization of lignocellolytic biomass material and/or sugars, and (iii) growth at elevated temperatures. The microorganisms according to the present disclosure are robust thermophile organisms with a decreased risk of contamination. They efficiently convert an extraordinarily wide range of biomass components to carbon-based chemicals like lactic acid or ethanol.

Each independently an embodiment of the invention is the use of an isolated cell which is Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB004C (DSMZ Accession number 25177), an isolated cell which is Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB041 C (DSMZ Accession number 25771), an isolated cell which is Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB087C (DSMZ Accession number 25772), an isolated cell which is Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB101C (DSMZ Accession number 25178), an isolated cell which is Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB103C (DSMZ Accession number 25773), an isolated cell which is Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB104C (DSMZ Accession number 25774) or an isolated cell which is Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB107C (DSMZ Accession number 25775), cells derived from either, mutants or a homolog of either.

As used herein “mutant” or “homolog” means a microorganism derived from the cells or strains according to the present disclosure, which are altered due to a mutation. A mutation is a change produced in cellular DNA, which can be spontaneous, caused by an environmental factor or errors in DNA replication, or induced by physical or chemical conditions. The processes of mutation included in this and indented subclasses are processes directed to production of essentially random changes to the DNA of the microorganism including incorporation of exogenous DNA. All mutants of the microorganisms comprise the advantages of being extereme thermophile (growing and fermenting at temperatures above 70° C.) and are capable of fermenting lignocellulosic biomass at least to ethanol. In an advantageous embodiment, mutants of the microorganisms according to the present disclosure have in a DNA-DNA hybridization assay, a DNA-DNA relatedness of at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, at least 95%, more preferred at least 98%, most preferred at least 99%, and most preferred at least 99.9% with one of the isolated bacterial strains Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB004C, DIB041C, DIB087C, DIB101C, DIB103C, DIB104C and DIB107C.

As mentioned above, in one aspect, the present disclosure relates to the use of an isolated cell comprising a 16S rDNA sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6 and SEQ ID NO 7, and a combination of any thereof.

In one aspect, mutants of the microorganisms according to the present disclosure pertains to an isolated Caldicellulosiruptor sp. cell having a 16S rDNA sequence at least 99, at least 99.3, at least 99.5, at least, 99.7, at least 99.9, at least 99.99 percent identical to one of the sequences listed in table 1.

TABLE 1 DSMZ accession 16SrDNA Genus Species Name number Deposition date SEQ ID NO. Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB004C DSM 25177 Sep. 15, 2011 1 Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB041C DSM 25771 Mar. 15, 2012 2 Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB087C DSM25772 Mar. 15, 2012 3 Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB101C DSM 25178 Sep. 15, 2011 4 Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB103C DSM 25773 Mar. 15, 2012 5 Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB104C DSM 25774 Mar. 15, 2012 6 Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB107C DSM 25775 Mar. 15, 2012 7

The invention is based on the use of isolated bacterial strains Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB004C, DIB041C, DIB087C, DIB101C, DIB103C, DIB104C and DIB107C that contain 16S rDNA sequences at least 99 to 100%, preferably 99.5 to 99.99, more preferably at least 99.99 percent identical to the respective sequences listed in table 1, in the methods according to the present disclosure.

The strains listed in table 1 have been deposited in accordance with the terms of the Budapest Treaty on Sep. 15, 2011 with DSMZ—Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH, Inhoffenstr. 7B, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany, under the respectively indicated DSMZ accession numbers and deposition dates, respectively, by DIREVO Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Nattermannallee 1, 50829 Cologne (DE).

The microorganisms of the species Caldicellulosiruptor sp. according to the present disclosure in particular refer to a microorganism which belongs to the genus Caldicellulosiruptor and which preferably has one or more of the following characteristics:

-   -   a) it is a microorganism of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor     -   b) in a DNA-DNA hybridization assay, it shows a DNA-DNA         relatedness of at least 70%, preferably at least 90%, at least         95%, more preferred at least 98%, most preferred at least 99%         with either Caldicellulosiruptor sp. strain listed in table 1         with their respective accession numbers; and/or     -   c) it displays a level of 16S rDNA gene sequence similarity of         at least 98%, preferably at least 99% or at least 99,5%, more         preferably 100% with either either Caldicellulosiruptor sp.         strain listed in table 1 with their respective accession         numbers; and/or     -   d) it is capable of surviving in high temperature conditions         above 75° C.     -   e) it is capable of surviving in high temperature conditions         above 70° C., and or     -   f) it is a Gram-positive bacterium.

Preferably, at least two or at least three, and more preferred all of the above defined criteria a) to f) are fulfilled.

In an advantageous embodiment, the microorganisms according to the present disclosure in particular refer to a microorganism which belongs to the genus Caldicellulosiruptor and which preferably has one or more of the following characteristics:

-   -   a) It is a microorganism of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor     -   b) it is a microorganism of the species Caldicellulosiruptor         saccharolyticus;     -   c) in a DNA-DNA hybridization assay, it shows a DNA-DNA         relatedness of at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, at least         95%, more preferred at least 98%, most preferred at least 99%,         and most preferred at least 99.9% with one of the strains of         table 1; and/or     -   d) it displays a level of 16S rDNA gene sequence similarity of         at least 98%, preferably at least 99%, at least 99.5% or at         least 99.7%, more preferably 99.99% with one of the strains         listed in table 1; and/or     -   e) it is capable of surviving and/or growing and/or producing a         alcohol at temperature conditions above 70° C., in particular of         above 72° C.

Preferably, at least two or at least three, and more preferred all of the above defined criteria a) to e) are fulfilled.

The term “DNA-DNA relatedness” in particularly refers to the percentage similarity of the genomic or entire DNA of two microorganisms as measured by the DNA-DNA hybridization/renaturation assay according to De Ley et al. (1970) Eur. J. Biochem. 12, 133-142 or Huβ et al. (1983) Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 4, 184-192. In particular, the DNA-DNA hybridization assay preferably is performed by the DSMZ (Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany) Identification Service.

The term “16S rDNA gene sequence similarity” in particular refers to the percentage of identical nucleotides between a region of the nucleic acid sequence of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rDNA) gene of a first microorganism and the corresponding region of the nucleic acid sequence of the 16S rDNA gene of a second microorganism. Preferably, the region comprises at least 100 consecutive nucleotides, more preferably at least 200 consecutive nucleotides, at least 300 consecutive nucleotides or at least 400 consecutive nucleotides, most preferably about 480 consecutive nucleotides.

The strains according to disclosure have the potential to be capable of producing biofuels like alcohols. In one embodiment, the alcohol is selected from ethanol, butanol, propanol, methanol, propanediol and butanediol.

The Caldicellulosiruptor sp. strains according to the present disclosure have several highly advantageous characteristics needed for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass material. Thus, these base strains possess all the genetic machinery for the hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicelluloses and for the conversion of both pentose and hexose sugars to various fermentation products such as biofules like ethanol. As will be apparent from the below examples, the examination of the complete 16S rDNA sequence showed that the closely related strains may all be related to Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus although the 16S rDNA sequences may place them in a separate subspecies or even a different species

Furthermore, the Caldicellulosiruptor sp. strains according to the present disclosure are cellulolytic and xylanolytic.

In a preferred embodiment, the Caldicellulosiruptor sp. microorganism used in a method according to the present disclosure is

-   a) Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB004C, deposited on Sep. 15, 2011     under the accession number DSM 25177 according to the requirements     of the Budapest Treaty at the Deutsche

Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen (DSMZ), Inhoffenstraβe 7B, 38124 Braunschweig (DE) by DIREVO Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Nattermannallee 1, 50829 Cologne (DE),

-   b) a microorganism derived from Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB004C or -   c) a Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB004C mutant.

In another preferred embodiment, the Caldicellulosiruptor sp. microorganism is

-   a) Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB041C, deposited on Mar. 15, 2012     under the accession number DSM 25771 according to the requirements     of the Budapest Treaty at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen     und Zellkulturen (DSMZ), Inhoffenstraβe 7B, 38124 Braunschweig (DE)     by DIREVO Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Nattermannallee 1, 50829     Cologne (DE), -   b) a microorganism derived from Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB041C or -   c) a Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB041C mutant.

In another preferred embodiment, the Caldicellulosiruptor sp. microorganism used in a method according to the present disclosure is

-   a) Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB087C, deposited on Mar. 15, 2012     under the accession number DSM 25772 according to the requirements     of the Budapest Treaty at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen     und Zellkulturen (DSMZ), Inhoffenstraβe 7B, 38124 Braunschweig (DE)     by DIREVO Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Nattermannallee 1, 50829     Cologne (DE), -   b) a microorganism derived from Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB087C or -   c) a Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB087C mutant.

In another preferred embodiment, the Caldicellulosiruptor sp. microorganism used in a method according to the present disclosure is

-   a) Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB101C, deposited on Sep. 15, 2011     under the accession number DSM 25178 according to the requirements     of the Budapest Treaty at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen     und Zellkulturen (DSMZ), Inhoffenstraβe 7B, 38124 Braunschweig (DE)     by DIREVO Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Nattermannallee 1, 50829     Cologne (DE), -   b) a microorganism derived from Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB101C or -   c) a Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB101C mutant.

In another preferred embodiment, the Caldicellulosiruptor sp. microorganism used in a method according to the present disclosure is

-   a) Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB103C, deposited on Mar. 15, 2012     under the accession number DSM 25773 according to the requirements     of the Budapest Treaty at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen     und Zellkulturen (DSMZ), Inhoffenstraβe 7B, 38124 Braunschweig (DE)     by DIREVO Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Nattermannallee 1, 50829     Cologne (DE), -   b) a microorganism derived from Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB103C or -   c) a Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB103C mutant.

In another preferred embodiment, the Caldicellulosiruptor sp. microorganism used in a method according to the present disclosure is

-   a) Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB104C, deposited on Mar. 15, 2012     under the accession number DSM 25774 according to the requirements     of the Budapest Treaty at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen     und Zellkulturen (DSMZ), Inhoffenstraβe 7B, 38124 Braunschweig (DE)     by DIREVO Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Nattermannallee 1, 50829     Cologne (DE), -   b) a microorganism derived from Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB104C or -   c) a Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB104C mutant.

In another preferred embodiment, the Caldicellulosiruptor sp. microorganism used in a method according to the present disclosure is

-   a) Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB107C, deposited on Mar. 15, 2012     under the accession number DSM 25775 according to the requirements     of the Budapest Treaty at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen     and Zellkulturen (DSMZ), Inhoffenstraβe 7B, 38124 Braunschweig (DE)     by DIREVO Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Nattermannallee 1, 50829     Cologne (DE), -   b) a microorganism derived from Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB107C or -   c) a Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB107C mutant.

All strains listed above and in table 1 belong to the genus Caldicellulosiruptor and are strictly anaerobic, non-sporeforming, non-motile, gram-positive bacteria. Cells are straight rods 0.4-0.5 μm by 2.0-4.0 μm, occuring both singly and in pairs. After 7 days incubation at 72° C. on solid medium with agar and cellulose as substrate both strains form circular milky colonies of 0.5-1 mm in diameter. Clearing zones around the colonies are produced indicating cellulose degradation.

The term “a microorganism” as used herein may refer to only one unicellular organism as well as to numerous single unicellular organisms. For example, the term “a microorganism of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor” may refer to one single Caldicellulosiruptor bacterial cell of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor as well as to multiple bacterial cells of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor.

The terms “a strain of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor” and “a Caldicellulosiruptor cell” are used synonymously herein. In general, the term “a microorganism” refers to numerous cells. In particular, said term refers to at least 10³ cells, preferably at least 10⁴ cells, at least 10⁵ or at least 10⁶ cells.

As mentioned above lignocellolytic biomass according to the present disclosure can be but is not limited to grass, switch grass, cord grass, rye grass, reed canary grass, mixed prairie grass, miscanthus, Napier grass, sugar-methoding residues, sugarcane bagasse, sugarcane straw, agricultural wastes, rice straw, rice hulls, barley straw, corn cobs, cereal straw, wheat straw, canola straw, oat straw, oat hulls, corn fiber, stover, soybean stover, corn stover, forestry wastes, recycled wood pulp fiber, paper sludge, sawdust, hardwood, softwood, pressmud from sugar beet, cotton stalk, banana leaves, oil palm residues and lignocellulosic biomass material obtained through processing of food plants. In advantageous embodiments, the lignocellulosic biomass material is hardwood and/or softwood, preferably poplar wood. In advantageous embodiments, the lignocellulosic biomass material is a grass or perennial grass, preferably miscanthus.

In advantageous embodiments, the lignocellulosic biomass material is subjected to mechanical, thermochemical, and/or biochemical pretreatment. The lignocellulosic biomass material could be exposed to steam treatment. In further embodiments, the lignocellulosic biomass material is pretreated with mechanical comminution and a subsequent treatment with lactic acid, acetic acid, sulfuric acid or sulfurous acid or their respective salts or anhydrides under heat and pressure with or without a sudden release of pressure. In another embodiment, the lignocellulosic biomass material is pretreated with mechanical comminution and a subsequent treatment with either sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide under heat and pressure with or without a sudden release of pressure.

In advantageous embodiments, the lignocellulosic biomass material is pretreated with mechanical comminution and subsequent exposure to a multi-step combined pretreatment process. Such multi-step combined pretreatment may include a treatment step consisting of cooking in water or steaming of the lignocellulosic biomass material at a temperature of 100-200° C. for a period of time in between 5 and 120 min. Suitable catalysts including but not limited to lactic acid, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide or their respective salts or anhydrides may or may not be added to the process. The process may further include a step comprising a liquid-solid separation operation, e.g. filtration, separation, centrifugation or a combination thereof, separating the process fluid containing partially or fully hydrolyzed and solubilized constituents of the lignocellulosic biomass material from the remaining insoluble parts of the lignocellulosic biomass. The process may further include a step comprising washing of the remaining lignocellulosic biomass material. The solid material separated from solubilized biomass constituents may then be treated in a second step with steam under heat and pressure with or without a sudden release of pressure at a temperature of 150-250° C. for a period of time in between 1 and 15 min. In order to increase pretreatement effectiveness, a suitable catalyst including but not limited to lactic acid, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide or their respective salts or anhydrides may be added also to the second step.

In advantageous embodiments, the lignocellulosic biomass is milled before converted into biofuels like ethanol. In one embodiment, the lignocellulosic biomass is pretreated biomass from Populus sp, preferably pretreated with steam pretreatment or multi-step combined pretreatment. In another embodiment, the lignocellulosic biomass is pretreated biomass from any perennial grass, e.g. Miscanthus sp., preferably treated with steam pretreatment or multi-step combined pretreatment.

In advantageous embodiments the cells, strains, microorganisms may be modified in order to obtain mutants or derivatives with improved characteristics. Thus, in one embodiment there is provided a bacterial strain according to the disclosure, wherein one or more genes have been inserted, deleted or substantially inactivated. The variant or mutant is typically capable of growing in a medium comprising a lignocellulosic biomass material.

In another embodiment, there is provided a process for preparing variants or mutants of the microorganisms according to the present disclosure, wherein one or more genes are inserted, deleted or substantially inactivated as described herein.

In some embodiments one or more additional genes are inserting into the strains according to the present disclosure. Thus, in order to improve the yield of the specific fermentation product, it may be beneficial to insert one or more genes encoding a polysaccharase into the strain according to the invention. Hence, in specific embodiments there is provided a strain and a process according to the invention wherein one or more genes encoding a polysaccharase which is selected from cellulases (such as EC 3.2.1.4); beta-glucanases, including glucan-1,3 beta-glucosidases (exo-1,3 beta-glucanases, such as EC 3.2.1.58), 1,4-beta-cellobiohydrolases (such as EC 3.2.1.91) and endo-1,3(4)-beta-glucanases (such as EC 3.2.1.6); xylanases, including endo-1,4-beta-xylanases (such as EC 3.2.1.8) and xylan 1,4-beta-xylosidases (such as EC 3.2.1.37); pectinases (such as EC 3.2.1.15); alpha-glucuronidases, alpha-L-arabinofuranosidases (such as EC 3.2.1.55), acetylesterases (such as EC 3.1.1.-), acetylxylanesterases (such as EC 3.1.1.72), alpha-amylases (such as EC 3.2.1.1), beta-amylases (such as EC 3.2.1.2), glucoamylases (such as EC 3.2.1.3), pullulanases (such as EC 3.2.1.41), beta-glucanases (such as EC 3.2.1.73), hemicellulases, arabinosidases, mannanases including mannan endo-1,4-beta-mannosidases (such as EC 3.2.1.78) and mannan endo-1,6-alpha-mannosidases (such as EC 3.2.1.101), pectin hydrolases, polygalacturonases (such as EC 3.2.1.15), exopolygalacturonases (such as EC 3.2.1.67) and pectate lyases (such as EC 4.2.2.10), are inserted.

In accordance with the present disclosure, a method of producing a fermentation product comprising culturing a strain according to the invention under suitable conditions is also provided.

The strains according to the disclosure are strictly anaerobic microorganisms, and hence it is preferred that the fermentation product is produced by a fermentation process performed under strictly anaerobic conditions. Additionally, the strain according to invention is an extremely thermophillic microorganism, and therefore the process may perform optimally, when it is operated at temperature in the range of about 40-95° C., such as the range of about 50-90° C., including the range of about ° C. degrees centigrade, such as the range of about 65-75° C. In an advantageous embodiment the process is operated at 72° C.

For the production of certain fermentation products, it may be useful to select a specific fermentation process, such as batch fermentation process, including a fed-batch process or a continuous fermentation process. Also, it may be useful to select a fermentation reactor such as a stirred vessel reactor, an immobilized cell reactor, a fluidized bed reactor or a membrane bioreactor.

In accordance with the invention, the method is useful for the production of a wide range of alcohols such as ethanol, butanol, propanol, methanol, propanediol and/or butanediol may be produced in accordance with the disclosure.

The expression “comprise”, as used herein, besides its literal meaning also includes and specifically refers to the expressions “consist essentially of” and “consist of”. Thus, the expression “comprise” refers to embodiments wherein the subject-matter which “comprises” specifically listed elements does not comprise further elements as well as embodiments wherein the subject-matter which “comprises” specifically listed elements may and/or indeed does encompass further elements. Likewise, the expression “have” is to be understood as the expression “comprise”, also including and specifically referring to the expressions “consist essentially of” and “consist of”.

The following methods and examples are offered for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

METHODS AND EXAMPLES

In the following examples, materials and methods of the present disclosure are provided including the determination of the properties of the microbial strains according to the present disclosure. It should be understood that these examples are for illustrative purpose only and are not to be construed as limiting this disclosure in any manner. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

Example 1 Isolation and Cultivation

All procedures for enrichment and isolation of the strains listed in table 1 employed anaerobic technique for strictly anaerobic bacteria (Hungate 1969). The strains were enriched from environmental samples at temperatures higher than 70° C. with crystalline cellulose and beech wood as substrate. Isolation was performed by picking colonies grown on solid agar medium at 72° C. in Hungate roll tubes (Hungate 1969).

The cells are cultured under strictly anaerobic conditions applying the following medium:

Basic medium NH4Cl 1.0 g NaCl 0.5 g MgSO4 × 7 H2O 0.3 g CaCl2 × 2 H2O 0.05 g NaHCO3 0.5 g K2HPO4 1.5 g KH2PO4 3.0 g Yeast extract (bacto, BD) 0.5 g Cellobiose 5.0 g Vitamins (see below) 1.0 ml Trace elements (see below) 0.5 ml Resazurin 1.0 mg Na2S × 9 H2O 0.75 g Distilled water 1000.0 ml Trace elements stock solution NiCl₂ × 6H₂O 2 g FeSO₄ × 7H₂O 1 g NH₄Fe(III) citrate, brown, 21.5% Fe 10 g MnSO₄ × H₂O 5 g CoCl₂ × 6H₂O 1 g ZnSO₄ × 7H₂O 1 g CuSO₄ × 5H₂O 0.1 g H₃BO₃ 0.1 g Na₂MoO₄ × 2H₂O 0.1 g Na₂SeO₃ × 5H₂O 0.2 g Na₂WoO₄ × 2H₂O 0.1 g Distilled water 1000.0 ml Add 0.5 ml of the trace elements stock solution to 1 liter of the medium Vitamine stock solution nicotinic acid 200 mg cyanocobalamin 25 mg p-aminobenzoic acid 25 mg (4-aminobenzoic acid) calcium D-pantothenate 25 mg thiamine-HCl 25 mg riboflavin 25 mg lipoic acid 25 mg folic acid 10 mg biotin 10 mg pyridoxin-HCl 10 mg Distilled water 200.0 ml Add 1 ml of the vitamine stock solution to 1 liter of the medium

All ingredients except sulfide are dissolved in deionized water and the medium is flushed with nitrogen gas (purity 99.999%) for 20 min at room temperature. After addition of sulfide, the pH-value is adjusted to 7.0 at room temperature with 1 M HCl. The medium is then dispensed into Hungate tubes or serum flasks under nitrogen atmosphere and the vessels are tightly sealed. After autoclaving at 121° C. for 20 min pH-value should be in between 6.8 and 7.0.

Carbon sources as specified for individual experiments are added prior to autoclaving. All applied substrate concentrations are indicated as glucose equivalents on the basis of available mol C (carbon).

Subsequent to autoclaving, cultures are inoculated by injection of a seed culture through the seal septum and inoculated in an incubator at 72° C. for the time indicated.

Example 2 HPLC

Sugars and fermentation products were quantified by HPLC-RI using a Via Hitachi LaChrom Elite (Hitachi corp.) fitted with an Rezex ROA Organic Acid H+ (Phenomenex). The analytes were separated isocratically with 2.5 mM H₂SO₄ and at 65° C.

Example 3 Phylogenetic Analysis of 16S rDNA Genes

Genomic DNA was isolated from cultures grown as described above and 16SrDNA amplified by PCR using 27F (AGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG; SEQ ID No. 8) as forward and 1492R (GGTTACCTTGTTACGACTT; SEQ ID No. 9) as reverse primer. The resulting products were sequenced and the sequences analyzed using the Sequencher 4.10.1 software (Gene Codes Corporation). The NCBI database was used for BLAST procedures.

Sequencing of 16S rDNA from all strains listed in table 1 revealed all these had (at least) one copy of a 16S rDNA operon which was most closely related to Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus (Strain Tp8T=DSM8903) in the available public databases. Alignment was carried out using ClustalW (Chenna et al. 2003) and the phylogenetic tree was constructed using software MEGA4 (Kumar et al. 2001). The tree for all strains listed in table 1 is displayed in FIG. 1.

The 16S rDNA sequences of all strains listed in table 1 have 99% percent identity to the respective sequence of e.g. Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus (Strain Tp8T=DSM8903).

Example 4 Batch Experiments

Batch experiments with all strains were executed by cultivation on the medium described above with the carbon source substrates listed in FIGS. 10 and 11. Sealed Hungate tubes or serum flaks were used for cultivation in a standard incubator at a temperature of 72° C.

The results clearly show that all strains are capable to produce ethanol and on soluble sugars, on soluble and insoluble sugar polymers as well as on the pretreated lignocellulose in the absence of free sugars.

Physiological comparison with the strain DSM8903 identified as the most closely related to the 16S rDNA comparison indicates a significantly higher ethanol and lactate formation in combination with a partially decreased production of acetate on polymeric substrates.

Example 5 Fermentation

Batch experiments with all strains, e.g. DIB004C, were performed by cultivation on the medium described above with addition of 20 g/L miscanthus grass pretreated with a suitable method selected from those described above comprising heating in the presence of dilute acid followed by sudden release of pressure.

Temperature is controlled to 72° C. and the pH-value is controlled to 6.75±0.1 throughout the fermentation. The fermenter is purged with nitrogen to remove excess oxygen before sodium sulphide is added as described above.

The fermentation is started by addition of a seed culture prepared as described in example 1.

The results of the HPLC analysis as described in example 2 show the production of ethanol.

The results of the product formation during a fermentation of Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB004C on pretreated miscanthus grass is shown in FIG. 9.

List of Additional References:

-   Rainey F A, Donnison A M, Janssen P H, Saul D, Rodrigo A, Bergquist     P L, Daniel R M, Stackebrandt E, Morgan H W. (1994) Description of     Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus gen. nov., sp. nov: an     obligately anaerobic, extremely thermophilic, cellulolytic     bacterium. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 120:263-266. -   Sissons C H, Sharrock K R, Daniel R M, Morgan H W. (1987) Isolation     of cellulolytic anaerobic extreme thermophiles from New Zealand     thermal sites. Appl Environ Microbiol. 53:832-838. -   Donnison A M, Brockelsby C M, Morgan H W, Daniel R M. (1989) The     degradation of lignocellulosics by extremely thermophilic     microorganisms. Biotechnol Bioeng. 33:1495-1499. -   Hungate R E. (1969) A roll tube method for cultivation of strict     anaerobes. In: Methods in Microbiology Eds. Norris J R and Ribbons     D W. pp 118-132. New York: Academic Press. -   Chenna R, Sugawara H, Koike T, Lopez R, Gibson T J, Higgins D G,     Thompson J D. (2003) Multiple sequence alignment with the Clustal     series of programs. Nucleic Acids Res. 13:3497-3500. -   Kumar S, Tamura K, Jakobsen IB, Nei M. (2001) MEGA2: molecular     evolutionary genetics analysis software. Bioinformatics.     17:1244-1245. 

1. A method for converting lignocellulosic biomass material to a biofuel comprising the step of contacting the lignocellulosic biomass material with a microbial culture for a period of time at an initial temperature and an initial pH, thereby producing an amount of a biofuel; wherein the microbial culture comprises an extremely thermophilic bacteria strain of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor, wherein the lignocellulosic biomass material is converted in a single step process as part of a consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) system.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the period of time is 10 h to 300 h, preferably 50 h to 200 h, 80 h to 160 h.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the initial temperature is in the range between 55° C. and 80° C., preferably between 72° C. and 78° C.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the initial pH is between 5 and 9, preferably between 6 and
 8. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the biofuel is an alcohol, preferably ethanol.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lignocellulosic biomass material is selected from the group consisting of grass, switch grass, cord grass, rye grass, reed canary grass, mixed prairie grass, miscanthus, sugar-methoding residues, sugarcane bagasse, sugarcane straw, agricultural wastes, rice straw, rice hulls, barley straw, corn cobs, cereal straw, wheat straw, canola straw, oat straw, oat hulls, corn fiber, stover, soybean stover, corn stover, forestry wastes, recycled wood pulp fiber, paper sludge, sawdust, hardwood, and softwood, pressmud from sugar beet, cotton stalk, banana leaves, and lignocellulosic biomass material obtained through processing of food plants.
 8. (canceled)
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said lignocellulosic biomass material is selected from the group consisting of corn stover, sugarcane bagasse, cotton stalks, switchgrass, and poplar wood. 10-13. (canceled)
 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said lignocellulosic biomass material is a grass or perennial grass, optionally miscanthus.
 15. (canceled)
 16. (canceled)
 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein said lignocellulosic biomass material is subjected to mechanical, thermochemical, and/or biochemical pretreatment.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein pretreating the lignocellulosic biomass material comprises exposing the lignocellulosic biomass to steam treatment.
 19. The method according to claim 17, wherein pretreating the lignocellulosic biomass material comprises mechanical commination and a subsequent treatment with sulfurous acid or its anhydride under heat and pressure with a sudden release of pressure.
 20. The method according to claim 17, wherein pretreating the lignocellulosic biomass comprises milling the lignocellulosic biomass.
 21. (canceled)
 22. The method according to claim 17, wherein the lignocellulosic biomass material is pretreated in addition with enzymes, preferably cellulose and hemicellulose degrading enzymes.
 23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the strain is selected from the group consisting of Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB041C, deposited as DSM 25771, Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB087C, deposited as DSM 25772, Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB103C, deposited as DSM 25773, Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB104C, deposited as DSM 25774, Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB107C, deposited as DSM 25775, Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB101C, deposited as DSM 25178 and Caldicellulosiruptor sp. DIB004C, deposited as DSM 25177, microorganism derived therefrom, progenies or mutants thereof.
 24. (canceled)
 25. (canceled) 